National University San Diego
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Has anyone had any luck with applying at National University for their nursing program? I applied back in Oct 06 and have been waiting to hear from them. They are supposed to notify in 3 months. I... Read More

Hi, I am taking the TEAS and the essay in a couple weeks, and I was wondering how the essay was. What kind of questions do they ask and how did you prepare? I am not the greatest essay writer so I am a little nervous about this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Hi Michelle719,
I used the Kaplan Book for the TEAS one day prior to exam. It was enough. I strongly suggest you study a lot of geology and physical science...that seems to be the low marker for everyone. I think I would have scored higher had a more days to study but they changed my test date and I still had finals at that time to study for and not enought time to do this exam as I had hoped but I believe I scored very well. Some people in my exam date have already taken it like 3 times!! I think reading the book would help you with the exam.

As for the Essay itself, the prompts are different and you have 90 min to complete it. I have taken many essays and have noticed the answering the prompt is most important and grammer and context comes next. Since it is done on a laptop I took the whole 90 min. They do not want more than 2 pages and that is pushing it because imagine all they have to grade still. I kept mine to about a page and a 1/4-1/2. I constantly kept erasing my thoughts and kept rewording it and checking for grammer and then checking that I answered the prompt and then tried my best to make it an enjoyable read...believe me some people finished fast but as I understood it the TEAS and Essay comprise about 50% of your score total so I would definitely take my time.

Hopefully this helps. I do not know what I got on the essay as I guess they will have to tell you that when you call in if they even give you that info. Good luck!!

80% prenty good, i scored 77% and i am waiting too. I called the other day and they told me they should be mailing letters 1st of july. the wait is . community colleges only require 69% so i applied grossmont just in case.

I guess I should put in my apps for grossmont too, I just hate having to pay for all my transcripts again just to be put on a waitlist but oh well at least they don't require CNA like southwestern but Grossmont has a recency requirement and I might end up having to take my sciences over again if they don't accept me in soon...bummer I would not want to waste anymore time and money redoing classes because they EXPIRED!!!

I don't mind the wait anymore...I just want to get into a program!! Let me know how you fair at Grossmont!***** says 2nd week of July and we should be getting our letters...I have a feeling that the Jan Cohort will be competitive so I'm really not holding my breath...i keep hearing like over 86 - 120 and she had mentioned that the numbers have gone down. Usually like 140 applicants per cohort. But as I just read at $60,000 I don't know if this is a better route to take or just wait JC and redo classes....problem with that is they keep averaging your GPA with all the sciences and wouldn't that keep taking a hit on your GPA if you have to keep taking classes because they expired...I mean come on the average wait at JC is like 3-4 years now an I have taken most of my classes in the early 2000!!

Just wanted to THANK everyone on this board for all the help and advice to get through nursing school... finished my last day and graduating from NU with honors(magna cum laude). I can't celebrate yet because now I have to pass the boards. WORK HARD, STUDY HARD, and GOOD LUCK.

Congrats to you!!! I would love to just know that if I get in I can make it work! I can tell already this will be a tough road and I am hoping the end will come as fast as yours did. Can you let us know when you take your NCLEX..I am sure you will do great! Do you have any other words of wisdom other than keep organized and forget you have a life for 22 months???? Congrats again!!!

Hi Michelle719,
I used the Kaplan Book for the TEAS one day prior to exam. It was enough. I strongly suggest you study a lot of geology and physical science...that seems to be the low marker for everyone. I think I would have scored higher had a more days to study but they changed my test date and I still had finals at that time to study for and not enought time to do this exam as I had hoped but I believe I scored very well. Some people in my exam date have already taken it like 3 times!! I think reading the book would help you with the exam.

As for the Essay itself, the prompts are different and you have 90 min to complete it. I have taken many essays and have noticed the answering the prompt is most important and grammer and context comes next. Since it is done on a laptop I took the whole 90 min. They do not want more than 2 pages and that is pushing it because imagine all they have to grade still. I kept mine to about a page and a 1/4-1/2. I constantly kept erasing my thoughts and kept rewording it and checking for grammer and then checking that I answered the prompt and then tried my best to make it an enjoyable read...believe me some people finished fast but as I understood it the TEAS and Essay comprise about 50% of your score total so I would definitely take my time.

Hopefully this helps. I do not know what I got on the essay as I guess they will have to tell you that when you call in if they even give you that info. Good luck!!

Thanks Jen!!

Very helpful tips! I am still preparing so I will go over the geology some more!!

Jun 21, '09

Hello everyone,

So my question is when do you take the upper division courses?...I think its spanish for the work place and like 2 other classes. Also, how many days a week do you attend class and clinicals combined. I know the days change every month, but do you do 3 or 4 days a wk? Thanks

So my question is when do you take the upper division courses?...I think its spanish for the work place and like 2 other classes. Also, how many days a week do you attend class and clinicals combined. I know the days change every month, but do you do 3 or 4 days a wk? Thanks

Hey RedGyal,
I think it's more of a personal choice. I would tell you to take it before you start the nursing program at NU, but if you decide to go to a different school and you took those classes, you just spent a couple thousand dollars for classes you don't need at a different school (does that make sense? ) anyway, i know some of my classmates are taking the spanish class while we're currently in pharmacology (2nd month of nursing school).. they said the spanish class is pretty easy, but it's an extra load for them that they don't want anymore... cause theres sooo much to learn in pharm in such a short amount of time. (not to mention they are married and do have kids).
So, i really think it's up to you and how much is on your plate. if you know you want to go to NU, i say do it before you start the program that way you can graduate once you're done with the nursing program!

Jul 1, '09

Mui Mui,

After I finish the program in Dec 2010 I have those 2 spanish classes left to take. I was going to take at the same time as my last couple classes but someone told me they have to approve you doing it, some saying your gpa has to be super high like a 3.8 or something. Do you know if that's true? Also, did you finish pharmacology? I got an A- in that class, yay! I can't believe my cohort is already halfway done with Fundamentals of Nursing! Are you starting that next week? It's so funny how your program up north is one month behind ours, lol!

After I finish the program in Dec 2010 I have those 2 spanish classes left to take. I was going to take at the same time as my last couple classes but someone told me they have to approve you doing it, some saying your gpa has to be super high like a 3.8 or something. Do you know if that's true? Also, did you finish pharmacology? I got an A- in that class, yay! I can't believe my cohort is already halfway done with Fundamentals of Nursing! Are you starting that next week? It's so funny how your program up north is one month behind ours, lol!

hmmm... i dont remember if they required a certain gpa.. but since you do have to get it approved, i guess a high gpa won't hurt sorry! i cant remember what they said at orientation.
Yah we just finished pharm this past saturday.. and we're all so relieved!! what a hard class! and congrats with the A-!! my teacher just told me i got an A too only 4 people got an A in the class so i'm thrilled i was one of them lol.
Do you guys also have to take math tests every month, thats not related to the course? (like it's just a math test on the side.. and you have 3 tries to pass it. if you don't pass it on the 3rd time, supposedly you can't move on.) or is that just us? because we're all kinda mad that they're giving us those med math tests because nobody's teaching it to us.. it's basically learn it on your own time. grr

i know it's pretty cool to know that you guys are experienced the exact same thing as us a month ago.. thanks for all the advice!! i really appreciate it! and btw, how is fundamentals?? are you guys going to the hospitals or nursing homes? and is this the class where we start poking each other with needles and stuff? i'm very nervous about doing that. i dont know whats scarier - receiving the shot or giving the shot to each other lol.

hope all of you are enjoying you break!

Jul 2, '09

Fundamentals is definitely cool... We've done everything from learning how to insert NG tubes, foley catheters, IV's, suctioning trach's, giving injections, etc... It is freaking AWESOME but we weren't aloud to do it on each other. For liability purposes... So we do it all on dummies. And as far as I know, the math test in pharm was the only one we will have...that's weird you have a bunch of them..!? We start our clinical facilities next week... My group is headed to Balboa Naval Hospital and we're doing two 8 hour shifts, and two 12 hour shifts... pretty excited!!!

After I finish the program in Dec 2010 I have those 2 spanish classes left to take. I was going to take at the same time as my last couple classes but someone told me they have to approve you doing it, some saying your gpa has to be super high like a 3.8 or something. Do you know if that's true? Also, did you finish pharmacology? I got an A- in that class, yay! I can't believe my cohort is already halfway done with Fundamentals of Nursing! Are you starting that next week? It's so funny how your program up north is one month behind ours, lol!

I looked into it to do it that way..and you have to write to the program of nursing director, and have maintained an overall GPA or 3.5 or above and have at least 18 quarter units completed. I do not qualify yet b/c we haven't done 18 quarter units yet, and already I got 1 B in Health Assessment so oh well, guess I will do it when we finish our nursing classes in time to graduate...

Jul 10, '09

Hey all! Is there anyone here from Cohort 17 or previous cohorts that have advice for Med-Surg I? We are finishing up Fundamentals very soon, and we are all starting to freak out for med-surg! Any stories, advice, comments, etc. would be very much appreciated!

Jul 11, '09

Hey everyone! I have been lurking on here for while and I just wanted to say thank you for all the posts! They are filled with very valuable information about National. I really appreciate all the info you have given! I wanted to say thanks!! I also had a question: What was the average GPA that you all had when you got accepted? I am hoping to get into the April 2010 cohort.

Hey all! Is there anyone here from Cohort 17 or previous cohorts that have advice for Med-Surg I? We are finishing up Fundamentals very soon, and we are all starting to freak out for med-surg! Any stories, advice, comments, etc. would be very much appreciated!

Study your buns off...read all of the chapters and memorize the medications/side effects and physiological parameters that must be met to give the medications (ie hold metoprolol for SBP <110) Also know the pathophysiology of all of the topics covered as well as the coresponding nursing implications. It is a lot of information and you should expect to put your life on hold till you are done! It is possible to get a good grade but you have to put A LOT in to see the results. In clinical keep busy so that the nurses appreciate you. If they see that you are helping them out the will teach you more.. Best of luck!